Mayor Proposes More Bond Funding for American Indian Cultural Embassy
Published on July 28, 2025
Updated list reflects additional round of City Council input
DENVER, CO — The City and County of Denver today shared a revised Vibrant Denver Bond package as part of the latest round of revisions made in collaboration with Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver City Council. The updated project list adds $15 million to the American Indian Cultural Embassy for a new total of $20 million in funding. The updates follow a Denver City Council discussion on bond priorities last week.
The American Indian Cultural Embassy is one of many projects that came about through community advocacy for inclusion in the bond. If approved, this Cultural Embassy would become a hub for history and indigenous trade and culture. Owing to its proposed proximity to the Denver International Airport, it will also draw new Indigenous and First Nations organizations and events to the Denver area.
“The commitment by Mayor Johnston and Denver City Council is the most important acknowledgement to American Indian people and Indian nations for the past 150 years. We pray the Vibrant Denver Bond moves forward, and that the citizens of Denver, Colorado, join us in celebrating our history and new beginning with the passage of the bond in November,” said Rick Williams, Founder of People of the Sacred Land.
“The vision for the American Indian Cultural Embassy came directly from community in Denver. It has been an honor elevating their voices to advocate for recognition and resources. This is a first step on a path of truth, education, and reconciliation in an authentic way,” said Stacie Gilmore, City Councilmember for District 11.
“We have heard from thousands of people across Denver this year on what is most important and meaningful for them to see in this bond,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “In addition to fixing our most urgent infrastructure needs, we are thrilled this bond invests in community through projects like La Plazita de Montbello, a new recreation center in Southeast Denver and an American Indian Cultural Embassy – a first, and long over-due resource, for Denver.”
About the Bond: Infrastructure Projects that Meet Basic Needs
With the increase for the American Indian Cultural Embassy, this bond represents $950 million in direct investment into infrastructure across Denver and will not result in a tax increase. The largest category of funding – about 45% or $428 million of the entire bond – will go toward transportation and mobility, meaning streets, bridges, and traffic/pedestrian safety improvements.
The next largest category of funding – about 27% or $252 million – will go toward improvements at city facilities residents use every day, like libraries, community centers, the animal shelter, and more, as well as places that help make Denver an enjoyable place to live and visit, like Red Rocks, the Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and more.
Improving and expanding parks and recreation infrastructure, including city parks, pools, safer trails, and children’s play areas, is approximately 18% or $175 million in the bond.
Approximately 7% or $64 million of this bond will make ADA improvements to housing and shelter facilities and add new affordable housing. An additional 3% or $30 million will expand a family health clinic and build a children’s advocacy center.
See the full list of projects here
Critical Local Investment Without Raising Taxes
Bonds are how cities across the U.S., including Denver, pay for infrastructure. While General Obligation bonds are funded by property taxes, the 2025 Vibrant Denver bond won’t raise the property tax rate. Over the past six months, the public, committee member volunteers, and city staff have worked to narrow 1,100 project ideas into a list of the 59 most critical and shovel-ready infrastructure projects needed in Denver today – all of which can be completed over the next six years within the city’s existing bond capacity since previous bond programs are nearing completion.
If approved by Denver City Council before August 25, registered voters will see questions about the bond on their November 4, 2025, ballot. After months of engagement, Denver City Council will hold a final public hearing at their regularly scheduled Council Meeting tonight. They are not expected to vote on the bond tonight.
The city maintains records of all community input, subcommittee meetings, and executive committee meetings online at denvergov.org/vibrantbond.
About Denver GO Bonds
General obligation (GO) bonds are a long-term debt instrument issued by state or local governments to fund public capital improvement projects such as roads, bridges, bikeways, public facilities and parks. This includes restoring, replacing and expanding existing capital assets. Local GO bond programs are authorized by Denver voters every 4-10 years and repaid through property taxes. Denver’s previous bond programs include Elevate Denver, a 10-year, $937 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2017, and RISE Denver, a five-year, $260 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2021. For more information, visit denvergov.org/gobonds.
About the Denver Department of Finance
Committed to being the best financially managed city and county in the nation, the Department of Finance (DOF) unifies the financial and accounting functions of the City and County of Denver and provides residents easy access to key financial data through Transparent Denver. DOF is divided into the Office of the CFO and seven divisions, including the Assessor’s Office, Controller’s Office, Budget and Management Office, Capital Planning and Real Estate, Cash and Capital Funding, Risk Management and Worker’s Compensation, and Treasury. For more information, visit Denvergov.org/finance.
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